In this videoconference talk from 8 Oct, 2021, Ajahn Anan talks about the results that come from past lives, and the effort that has to be made in this life, in order to meet with success.

"So talent could be called an old merit, which has been done in the past. The merit that has been done in past lives, this is merit, this is talent. But persistent effort must be made in this lifetime, and this must be imbued with Dhamma."